The Forum for Science and Technology Education has been launched in 2013 in order to establish and encourage cooperation among different sectors in Israel to promote K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. The importance attributed to STEM education and the need to increase the number of high-school students who choose to study STEM on the AP level led Neaman Institute to focus on this topic.
This report was prepared as a background for the forum discussions to create a basis for the development of a risk management strategy with respect to possible future shortages of STEM teachers in upper- secondary schools.
The report contains six chapters:
The first chapter defines and presents the curricula of all scientific and technological programs in Israel in secondary schools, high schools, and upper secondary vocational technicians and engineers;
The second chapter presents data on STEM teachers, such as the number of teachers, teaching hours, demographic characteristics of teachers and a basic model for forecasting the future number of STEM teachers needed;
The third chapter presents the CBS (Central Bureau of Statistic) data on enrollment rates and twelfth-grade examinees and eligible for Matriculation Certificates in STEM;
The fourth chapter presents data on the IDF and the industry sector’s needs for STEM human resources;
The fifth chapter maps initiatives, activities and organizations in Israel aimed at promoting STEM education;
The sixth chapter comparers Israel and selected countries with respect to STEM education.
